U.S. Seizes $7.7M in Crypto from North Korean IT Workers Using Fake Identities$BTC
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has seized approximately $7.7 million in cryptocurrency linked to a network of North Korean IT workers accused of infiltrating U.S. blockchain and crypto firms using fake identities. According to the DOJ, these individuals posed as remote IT freelancers to gain employment at American companies, concealing their true identities and affiliations.$XRP
The scheme allegedly involved workers connected to North Korea’s state-run Lazarus Group, a notorious cybercrime organization under international sanctions. The workers used stolen or fictitious identities to get hired and funnel earnings back to the North Korean regime, helping fund weapons programs in violation of U.S. and U.N. sanctions.$BNB
Federal prosecutors said the IT workers accessed internal systems of several companies, posing potential security risks, and were paid in cryptocurrency, which was laundered through complex transactions to obscure its origin. The DOJ collaborated with the FBI and international partners to trace and seize the funds.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by North Korea to bypass sanctions through cyber operations and underscores the importance of vetting remote hires. U.S. authorities have issued fresh warnings to tech companies to remain vigilant against such infiltration tactics.
